Options for a New Britain

This volume is a follow up to its highly influential predecessor,Options for Britain, which in 1995 brought together a leading group of academics and policy experts to assess the key economic, social and constitutional policy options for Britain. A decade on and the British political world is very different. Much of the analysis inOptions for Britainhas become accepted wisdom, and many of the policy proposals have become reality. However, there is also a sense of deja vu. The Labour government has been in power for a decade and governments find it difficult to refresh themselves in power, as the legacy of their own decisions build up. It is in these historical moments that outside thinking such as that embodied withinOptions for a New Britaincan have a decisive influence, helping to inform the public and key commentators, and to provide a source of ideas and inspiration. Leading policy experts examine what has happened over the last decade across a broad range of key policy areas, what are the current challenges and what options might an incoming government- regardless of political persuasion- have to address them.

VARUN UBEROI is Post-Doctoral Fellow in the Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Oxford, UK.

ADAM COUTTS is Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, University of Cambridge, UK.

IAIN MCLEAN is Professor of Politics and Director of the Public Policy Unit, Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Oxford, UK.

DAVID HALPERN is Acting Director at the Institute for Government, UK.